Electrical connector for joining electric wires



Aug. 23, 1955 D. F. HICKS, JR

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR JOINING ELECTRIC WIRES Filed Sept. 8, 1951 DRUERV F. HICKSJR.

INVENTOR.

HUE'BNE'R, BEEHLER,

aysazaafi B w OM United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR JOINING ELECTRIC WIRES Druery F. Hicks, In, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 8, 1951, Serial No. 245,700 7 Claims. (Cl. 174-94) The invention relates to electrical connectors and particularly quick connectors which obviate the necessity of twisting the Wires together or soldering them. More particularly the connector is one especially well adapted to connecting an end of wire to a portion of a continuous wire without the necessity for cutting or for distorting the continuous wire.

Experience has taught that sound and efiicient connections can be made between electric wires or electric conductors by either pressing the wires firmly against each other and maintaining some means of preventing their separation, or by employment of a device which presses a metallic element into contact with both wires to be joined electrically without the necessity on all occasions of pressing those wires into contact with each other. This knowledge has given riseto the design and construction of a number of different styles of mechanical connector clamps by means of which wires can be brought into contact with each other and there held in place.

It is appreciated that an encircling band aflords substantially the maximum amount of strength in proportion to the amount of material employed. Hence, connectors in the form of an encircling band are ordinarily the least expensive.

Difficulty is encountered, however, under circumstances where one of the wires is continuous and it is desired to connect a second wire to the continuous wire at some point intermediate its ends. Under those circumstances it is impossible to slide a band endwise over the continuous wire. Split connectors capable of being placed around the continuous wire have not been sufficiently satisfactory.

An object therefore of the invention is to provide a new and improved connector which is capable of being applied to a continuous wire in such fashion as to provide the effect of a continuous encircling band.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electric connector which comprises parts threadedly engageable one with another and which, upon being moved threadably into engagement, is capable of wedging a device or element forming part of the connector into engagement with the wires thus to eifect an efficient electric connection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electric connector which, if need be, can be used on a continuous wire and at the same time one which can be easily and quickly applied and which once applied will remain firmly in place without the prospect of slipping loose.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electric connector which is inexpensive in its application, which contains relatively few parts, and in which certain parts have such a relationship to other parts that they are capable of performing double functions thereby keeping the device relatively simple in construction.

The objects also include the provision of a connector which minimizes the necessity for skinning wires over the portions to be connected, which can be used on wires of difierent sorts, whether solid wires or twisted strands, and also one which can be positively locked in place after the connection has been completed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the parts of the connector completely engaged showing an end of wire connected to the mid-portion of a continuous wire.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view at the right-hand end of Figure 1 with the wires shown in section.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the several parts of the connector in the positions assumed prior to being threaded into engagement.

The device forming the subject matter of this invention consists essentially of four parts, namely, a body 10, a wedge element 11, a nut or wedge take-up element 12, and a second co-operating nut or wedge take-up element 13. These parts are designed to connect together a free (ild of a wire 14 to a mid-portion 15 of a continuous wire In operation the body 10 is longitudinally slit to permit it to be slipped over a portion 15' of the wire 16 without sliding it over the end of the wire. The wedge element 11 is then slid into the body 111. Next the nut portions 12 and 13, being open spirals, can be threaded around the wire 16 without it being necessary to slide either of them over the end. The nut portions are then threaded into engagement one with respect to the other by reason of their spiral construction, are placed over the wedge element 11, preferably before it is inserted within the body 10, and the nuts thus threaded together. The combined nuts are then threaded into engagement around the exterior of the body 10 driving the wedge element 11 into place within the body.

More specifically the body Ill comprises a solid interior portion 20 having a sloping face 21 adapted to receive the wires 15 and 14. On the exterior of the body 10 are threads 22 which extend spirally around the body, being interrupted only at one side by a longitudinal slot 23 which extends from end to end of the body. The longitudinal slot 23 communicates with an aperture 24 which also extends completely through the body.

Cooperable with the body is the wedge element 11 which is provided with a sloping surface 25 adapted to lie in parallel relationship with the sloping surface 21 of the interior of the body. The wedge element 11 has a cylindrical or rather partially cylindrical exterior at the outer periphery of which are located guide posts 26 and 27. The fit of the wedge element 11 in the body 10 is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

The nut which is the wedge take-up as already described consists of two parts 12 and 13. The part 12 consists of a spirally wound band of springy consistency which can readily be stretched and threaded over the continuous wire 16.

The other nut element or part 13 is similarly constructed of a spirally wound band which, however, although having an outside diameter approximately the same as the outside diameter of the part 12, has an inside diameter less than the inside diameter of the part 12,

thereby permitting the loops of the spiral of the part 12 to be separated one from another forming a thread adapted to threadably engage the spaces between threads 22 of the body.

When a connection is to be made, that is, connecting a free end 14 of wire with an intermediate portion 15 of a continuous wire 16, the end of the Wire 14 is skinned, if the Wire be insulated, and scraped clean. Also the portion 15 of the wire 16 is skinned and scraped. The bare wire need not be substantially longer than the length of the body although a greater bared portion is suggested in Figure l.

The body 10 is applied over the portion of wire by passing the longitudinal slot 23 over the wire so that the wire is received within the aperture 24. The nut portions or wedge take-up portions 12 and 13 may then be threaded over the same wire 16 at any point. After these take-up portions 12 and 13 encircle the wire 16, they are threaded into engagement one with another so that the loops of one alternate with the loops of the other. After the have been completely interengaged,

they may be locked in place by application of a U-shaped locking piece 30. The locking piece is adapted to enter holes 31 in the take-up member 12 and similarly located holes 32 in take-up member 13. These holes accommodate a leg 33 of the U-shaped body member. Another leg 34 is adapted to be received in rounded notches 35 in the take-up member 12 and similar rounded notches 36 in the take-up member 13. It has been found that there is sufiicient tendency of the members 12 and 13 to rotate with respect to each other to frictionally hold the leg 33 in position so that the U-shaped locking member will not rotate to disengage the leg 34 from the rounded notches.

The take-up members thus engaged one with respect to the other may then be slipped over the wedge element so that the members 12 and 13 lie between the guide posts 26 and 27 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

After the parts have been thus assembled, the wire end 14 may be pushed through the openings within the combined members 12 and 13 and into the aperture 24 alongside the wire 15 at the locations shown in Figures 3 and 4. When this has been accomplished the small end of the wedge element 11 is started into the aperture 24 and the guide post 27 started through the longitudinal slot 23. The endmost loop of the member 12 is then started threadedly into the outermost groove between the threads 22 of the body 10. By rotating the combined members 12 and 13 they are threaded onto the body by means of the innermost edges of the loops of the member 12 engaging the spiral recess between the threads 22 of the body 10. This is particularly well illustrated in Figure 2.

As the combined members 12 and 13 are advanced threadably upon the body, they gradually force the Wedge element 12 into the aperture until it is forced into contact with the wires 14 and 15 and finally is forced to such an extent that good contact is made. Meanwhile both guide posts 26 and 27 slide along the longitudinal slot 23, thereby guiding the wedge element 11 in proper position. The longitudinal slot 23 consequently performs a double purpose, namely, permitting the body 10 to be applied over a continuous wire and also providing a slot for the guide posts 26 and 27. The guide posts 26 and 27 perform a double function, namely, serving as guides for the wedge element as it enters the body 10 and also serving as a means for engagement with the combined members 12 and 13 whereby when the members 12 and 13 move in one direction or another, they press against one or another of the guide posts 26, 27 either to advance the wedge element into connecting position or to release it therefrom. Upon release the U-shaped locking elements 30 may be removed by first unbending the bentover ends, should the ends be bent over for additional safety. The members 12 and 13 may be separated one from another in just the reverse operation as was used in engaging them. Upon separation they may be threaded off the wire 16 and if no further connection is needed there, the bare part may be taped over with insulation. Upon removal of the body 10, the entire connector may be used at some other location.

There has thus been described a particularly simple electric connector, simple in construction and simple in application, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which can be readily and conveniently used either to connect together a free end and a continuous wire, to connect together two free ends, or in fact to connect two continuous wires should such a circumstance ever arise.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention,

' which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric connector for pressing bare electric wires into electrical engagement comprising a body member having a laterally open surface adapted to receive endless strands of wire, a wedge member adapted to slide into wire pressing relationship relative to said surface, a longitudinally extending guide groove in one of said members and a projecting guide means in the other member slidable in said groove, a Wedge take-up element having an opening therein adapted to receive an endless strand of wire and adapted to engage said Wedge member, and a rotatable spiral engagement between the wedge take-up member and the body member having an axis of rotation parallel to the axes of said strands of wire and adapted to force the wedge member against the body member.

2. An electric connector for pressing bare electric Wires into electrical engagement comprising a body member having a laterally open surface element extending throughout the length of the body and adapted to receive endless strands of wire, a wedge member adapted to slide into wire pressing relationship relative to said surface, a longitudinally extending guide groove in one of said members and a projecting guide means in the other member slidable in said groove, said projecting guide means having a transverse opening therein, a spiral track on said body and a spirally open wedge member take-up element adapted to engage said wedge member within said transverse opening, and having a part slidably engageable with the spiral track when rotated relative to the body, thereby to force said members together.

3. An electric connector for pressing bare electric wires into electrical engagement comprising a body having a laterally open aperture therethrough extending throughout the length of the body and large enough to receive two strands of wire, a first wedge element in the aperture forming part of said body, a second Wedge element adapted to slide into wire pressing relationship relative to the first wedge element, one of said wedge elements having a guide groove associated therewith extending longitudinally and parallel to the direction of said strands and communicating with said aperture, a projecting guide means in the other wedge element slidable in said groove, a spiral track on said body having the central axis thereof parallel to the direction of said strands and a wedge takeup member adapted to engage said second wedge element, said Wedge take-up member having a part slidably engageable with the spiral track when rotated relative to the body, thereby to force said wedge element's together.

4. An electric connector for connecting one Wire to a continuous wire comprising a body having a longitudinal aperture therethrough large enough to receive two strands of wire side by side, said body having a slot connecting the aperture and the exterior of the body adapted to admit the continuous wire to the aperture, a wedge element slidably receivable in said aperture having a wire contacting portion, and slidable guide means between the body and the Wedge element, and an open spiral wedge take-up in engagement with the wedge element and adapted to be threaded around the continuous wire, said body and said wedge take-up having mutually engageable elements adapted upon engagement thereof to advance the wedge element against the wires.

5. An electric connector for connecting one wire end to a continuous wire comprising a body having a longitudinal wire engaging portion therein, said body having a slot providing access to said portion from the exterior and adapted to admit the continuous wire to said portion, a wedge element slidably receivable upon said portion and having a wire contacting portion, guide means holding the body and the wedge element slidably together, and a wedge take-up comprising an open spiral unit adapted to be threaded around the continuous wire, said wedge takeup being in engagement with the wedge element, and being threadedly engageable with the body, whereby when the wedge take-up is rotated relative to the body the wedge element is drawn against the wires.

6. An electric connector for connecting one wire to a continuous wire comprising a body having a longitudinal aperture therethrough large enough to receive two strands of wire side by side, said body having a slot between the aperture and the exterior adapted to admit the continuous wire to the aperture, a wedge element slidably receivable in said aperture and having a wire contacting portion and guide means extending through and slidably receivable in said slot, and a wedge take-up comprising an open spiral unit adapted to be threaded around the continuous wire and being engageable with said guide means on the wedge element, said body having a spiral portion at the exterior thereof adapted to receive the spiral unit upon rotation of the spiral unit over the body thereby to draw the wedge element against the wires.

7. An electric connector for connecting a wire end to a continuous wire comprising a body having a longitudinal aperture therethrough large enough to receive two strands of wire side by side, said body having a longitudinal slot connecting the aperture and the exterior of the body adapted to admit the continuous wire to the aperture, a wedge element slidably receivable in said aperture having a wire contacting face and guide means on the wedge element extending through and slidably receivable in said slot, and a wedge take-up comprising two open spiral members adapted to be threaded around the continuous wire and threaded into engagement one with the other and adapted to engage said guide means, said body having a spiral groove in the exterior thereof adapted to receive the spiral members upon rotation of the spiral members over the body thereby to draw the wedge element against the wires, and lock means releasably anchoring the spiral members together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,716 Birkenmaier Oct. 1, 1935 1,801,277 Kelley Apr. 21, 1931 2,220,203 Branin Nov. 5, 1940 2,432,636 Van Vleet Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 229,406 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1925 

